Chip shop break-in man jailed

A Merseyside man was jailed for four months at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday after admitting breaking into the Fort Chip Shop.

The court was told 28-year-old Dominic Benjamin Jordan had come to Shetland to find work but had been unsuccessful. He had a problem history with alcohol and drugs and had decided to go out to the folk festival, where he had been drinking.

A nearby resident heard the sound of smashing glass around 11.30pm on Monday and saw Jordan climbing in the broken front window of the chip shop. The police were called and Jordan was still inside when they arrived but it was unsafe for him to climb back out the window because of the broken glass.

When the shop keyholder was summoned, Jordan, of Beech Road, Wirral, Merseyside, attempted to escape through the back of the shop. It was apparent, the till, which was visible from outside the shop, had been moved.

According to defence solicitor Tommy Allan, Jordan had no real recollection of what led him to commit the offence, but he did not come to Shetland to commit crime and was ashamed and embarrassed by what he had done.

He had offered, said Mr Allan, to compensate the shop owner for the damage he had caused, though this was perhaps not a realistic prospect.

Jordan had an extensive criminal record and had been released from prison in January but had since taken steps to curb his drug taking and drinking. His recent behaviour had impressed his family enough for them to pay for his trip to Shetland.

Sheriff Arnold Duncan took into account Jordan’s early guilty plea, but given his criminal record and in the interests of the public safety, decided to jail him for four months, which would also give him the opportunity to be away from alcohol.